Ashton Kutcher Explains Why He Decided to Play Steve Jobs

Ashton Kutcher channels the late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs in the upcoming biopic "Jobs," due in theaters next month, and he wants fans to know why he opted to play the revolutionary tech icon in the Joshua Michael Stern-directed film -- especially given that it's not a wholly positive portrayal.

On July 16, Kutcher tweeted a link to his answer on Quora, and no, it doesn't cite a secret affinity for black turtlenecks. The actor, 35, admits that initially he "had great reservations" about the screenplay, which "was not entirely flattering to [Steve Jobs's] character," but he proceeded for four main reasons.

First off, he didn't want to risk another actor stepping into the man's sneakers without due respect. "If this film becomes an enduring memory, of a man I admire," he writes, "I wanted to ensure that it was portrayed by someone who cared about his legacy and took the time to represent him in a way that people who were close to Steve felt to be authentic."

Kutcher also welcomed the inherent challenge, explaining, "I've found that the greatest rewards I've received in my life have come from jumping at the opportunities to take on things that scare me."

On top of that, he's already deeply invested in the tech world, having put money into and acted as an advisor for a handful of start-ups. For him, the film represented "a perfect convergence in my craft and my interests."

Finally, a strong believer in the power and benefit of entrepreneurialism, Kutcher "loved what the film stands for" and wanted to bring Jobs's inspirational story to a wider audience. "I wanted to remind entrepreneurs that Steve Jobs wasn't always 'Steve Jobs,' that he struggled, that he failed, and that he rigorously persevered to build something great to improve other people's lives."